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What is Good Food For All – EU (GFFA-EU)?
GFFA-EU is a Brussels-based non-governmental organization created to advocate for and implement the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) titled “Food is a Human Right for All!”. Our mission is to ensure the universal realization of the right to food within the European Union through democratic action and legal reform. The ECI was born out of the Second Demopratic Forum on the Right to Food, held in Geneva, where more than 60 representatives of European civil society collaborated in drafting this historic initiative.
What was the Second Demopratic Forum on the Right to Food?
The Second Demopratic Forum on the Right to Food, held in Geneva in 2024, was a pivotal gathering of activists, civil society members, UN representatives, and politicians. Building upon the inaugural 2023 forum that produced the Geneva Manifesto on the Right to Food, this second forum focused on formulating the ECI on the Right to Food. The forum aimed to involve European citizens directly in the legislative process to establish the right to food across Europe, drawing inspiration from successful ECIs like the right to water campaign.
What is a European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI)?
A ECI is a powerful tool of participatory democracy in the European Union. It allows EU citizens to directly propose legislation to the European Commission. To be considered, an ECI must gather at least one million verified signatures from EU citizens, with minimum thresholds met in at least seven member states.
The ECI is not a petition—it’s a formal legal process that, if successful, obliges the European Commission to respond and consider proposing new laws on the issue. It is one of the few instruments that give citizens a direct voice in shaping EU policies.
What is the Right to Food?
The right to food is a fundamental human right. It means that every person must have regular, permanent, and unrestricted access to adequate, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food, produced sustainably and accessible in dignity.
Simply put: It’s the right to feed oneself, without having to rely on charity or beg for help.
Recognized in international law—including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights—the right to food obliges governments to respect, protect, and fulfill this right for all, by ensuring food systems work for people, not profit.
When does the signature collection for the ECI begin?
Official signature collection will begin the 07 January 2026. Until then, we are focused on building a strong and diverse community of supporters across Europe. This preparatory phase is crucial: we are forming alliances, developing national campaigns, and ensuring that when the time comes, we have the people and infrastructure in place to gather one million signatures in 12 months.
Join us now, because when the clock starts ticking, we’ll need everyone on board.
How can my organization become a member of GFFA-EU and support the ECI?
If you represent a civil society organization, trade union, or NGO and wish to actively support the ECI in your country, we invite you to get in touch with us directly via email. Once we receive your inquiry, we will provide you with a partnership toolkit, national campaign guidelines, and all the relevant materials to coordinate advocacy, collect signatures, and raise awareness at the local level.
I’m not part of an organization. How can I support the ECI as a citizen?
Every citizen counts. You can support “Food is a Human Right for All!” by:
Subscribing to our newsletter to stay informed and engaged.
Sharing our campaign on social media and within your community to help us reach the 1 million signatures needed.
Donating to help us print materials, organize events, and support national campaigns across Europe.
Volunteering to collect signatures or organize local actions.
This initiative belongs to all of us. Your voice is part of the million we need.
What does it mean to recognise food as a human right?
Food as a human right is already recognised in international human rights law. It establishes clear obligations for states to respect, protect, and fulfil access to adequate food. The central problem in Europe is not legal recognition, but weak implementation and accountability.
Answered by: Michael Windfuhr, Hélène Quéau
If the right to food already exists, why is this initiative necessary?
Because recognition without enforcement produces no material change. Governments often acknowledge the right while failing to guarantee access in practice. The initiative aims to turn existing legal recognition into concrete political obligations at EU level.
Answered by: Michael Windfuhr, Walter el Nagar
How can states be held accountable when they claim they lack “available resources”?
International human rights bodies have developed criteria to assess whether states are truly using the maximum of their available resources. This includes scrutiny of both revenue generation and spending priorities. Civil society and national human rights institutions can apply these tools, and further exchanges or seminars were suggested.
Answered by: Michael Windfuhr
Can there be a right to food without protecting farmers and food producers?
No. The right to food cannot be reduced to social security alone. Farmers, peasants, and food workers must be recognised as central rights-holders within the food system. This includes fair income, protection from market pressure, and alignment with peasants’ rights such as those recognised in UNDROP.
Answered by: Michael Windfuhr, Hélène Quéau
How do we prevent the right to food from being captured by populist narratives?
By anchoring it in democratic participation and collective accountability. The ECI provides a shared political framework that unites farmers, workers, consumers, environmental and social justice movements around concrete demands, rather than symbolic rhetoric.
Answered by: Hélène Quéau
What happens if the European Commission rejects the ECI?
A rejection does not end the process. Even a rejected ECI can significantly raise political visibility and pressure. Depending on the Commission’s response, legal challenges before the Court of Justice of the EU may also be possible.
Answered by: Thomas Hieber, Saverio Teruzzi
What does reaching one million signatures actually trigger?
If one million signatures are reached, the Commission is legally obliged to formally examine the initiative, meet the organisers, and issue a public response explaining what action it will take or why it refuses. While outcomes are not guaranteed, the process is binding.
Answered by: Saverio Teruzzi
What lessons can be drawn from the “Right to Water” European Citizens’ Initiative?
The “Right to Water” ECI eventually led to implementation through secondary EU legislation, though the process took several years. It shows that ECIs can succeed, but persistence and long-term strategy are required.
Answered by: Thomas Hieber
Is the right to water legally recognised as a human right in EU law?
No, not in primary EU law. It was implemented through secondary legislation, notably the Drinking Water Directive (EU) 2020/2184.
Answered by: Thomas Hieber
Is it more realistic to advance the right to food through the Council of Europe than the EU?
Yes. Modifying EU primary law is extremely difficult. An additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights may be more feasible, and the ECI can help stimulate political momentum in that direction. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg remains a key arena for enforceable human rights in Europe.
Answered by: Thomas Hieber, Juan Echanove
Does the initiative directly address the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)?
Yes. The ECI explicitly includes demands related to the CAP, including stronger support for small-scale producers, territorial food systems, decent work, and agroecology, as well as measures to curb market concentration and speculation.
Answered by: Thomas Hieber
Does the initiative address corporate concentration and corporate power in food systems?
Yes. Corporate concentration and accountability are explicitly addressed among the initiative’s demands, and the campaign will articulate political messages on these issues. More in-depth discussions were planned for subsequent moments.
Answered by: Hélène Quéau, Ramona Duminicioiu
Can signatures be collected without internet access?
No. Signature collection is digital only. For offline events and demonstrations, coordination through national focal points and adapted digital tools is foreseen.
Answered by: Walter el Nagar, Hélène Quéau
Can progress be tracked by country during the campaign?
Yes. Aggregate signature numbers by country will be visible on the official Commission-hosted ECI platform, and regular updates will be provided to coalition members.
Answered by: Walter el Nagar, Thomas Hieber, Hélène Quéau
Do partner organisations have access to the personal data of signatories?
No. Personal data remains exclusively with the European Commission. Partners only have access to aggregate numbers, not individual contact data.
Answered by: Walter el Nagar, Thomas Hieber
Are there National Focal Points in every EU country?
Not yet. Some countries still need organisations to take on this role. Interested organisations were invited to engage and discuss taking responsibility at national level.
Answered by: Ramona Duminicioiu, Hélène Quéau
How can organisations identify or contact their National Focal Point?
An updated list of National Focal Points will be shared with coalition members. In the meantime, participants were encouraged to ask and be connected directly.
Answered by: Walter el Nagar, Hélène Quéau
Are poverty and social organisations part of the coalition strategy?
Yes. Anti-poverty organisations are considered essential. Their integration is expected to happen primarily through national alliances and focal points, adapted to each country’s context.
Answered by: Ramona Duminicioiu
How will influencers be identified and engaged?
There is no central EU-wide influencer list. Identification and engagement will largely happen at national level, reflecting cultural and political contexts. The steering committee can provide support on request.
Answered by: Ramona Duminicioiu